Ricky Rubio tells Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman he's ready to play, but Adelman is noncommittal about when Rubio will see his first action since injuring his knee in March. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman reiterated that point guard Ricky Rubio will not play Wednesday night, Dec. 12, against the Denver Nuggets, but the Wolves coach said the second-year point guard has been telling him he's ready.

"He's saying he's ready, but we have to look at the schedule and all the other factors," Adelman said before Wednesday's game. "We'll keep judging it every day. We have to be diligent in doing that. Five games in seven nights is a pretty big order."

After Wednesday's game, the Wolves (9-9) have a stretch of five games in seven days, including two sets of back-to-back games. Adelman said he will have input on the decision to allow Rubio to make his season debut, but he indicated the final word likely will come down from Rubio and the team's medical personnel, specifically trainer Gregg Farnam, who has been supervising Rubio's rehabilitation.

Rubio underwent surgery March 21 to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left knee. He was injured March 9 when he collided with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Adelman said he's been encouraged by the fact that Rubio has not had any setbacks since he was cleared for full-contact practices with the team on Nov. 27.

"The most important thing to me is that he's still practicing and hasn't had any problems," Adelman said.